Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Prenatal Care: A Study Of Perceived And Actual Barriers For Utah County Women, Melanie Droubay, Dr. Rosanne Schwartz

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Prenatal care is a significant indicator of health care. Women who receive both early and adequate prenatal care have less problems with their pregnancy as well as decreased neonatal, infant and maternal mortality (Kiely & Kogan, 2000). Because Utah has a proportionally high volume of pregnancies, prenatal care is a major concern for this state. Through this research, the adequacy of prenatal care was studied as well as any possible barriers to receiving prenatal care for first-time mothers living in Utah County.

Maternal Biomarkers Of Endothelial Dysfunction And Preterm Delivery, Xinhua Chen, Theresa O Scholl

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: Endothelial dysfunction is key to the development of atherosclerosis. Preterm delivery foreshadows later maternal cardiovascular disease (CVD), but it is not known if endothelial dysfunction also occurs. We prospectively measured circulating biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction in pregnant women with preterm or term delivery.

METHODS: We conducted a case-control study nested within a large prospective epidemiological study of young, generally healthy pregnant women. Women who delivered preterm (gestation, n = 240) and controls who delivered at term (n = 439) were included. Pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia were analyzed separately. Circulating endothelial dysfunction biomarkers included soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), vascular …

Orthopedics As It Relates To Pregnancy And The Parturient, Charlotte Orr

UNM Orthopaedic Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Helping The Community From The Bottom Up: Distributing Diapers To The Williamsburg Community, Constance A. Hull, Caroline Kelsey

VA Engage Journal

There is a great need for a sustainable supply of clean diapers for low-income residents of Williamsburg since this region is without a diaper bank. Being unable to afford diapers can have a myriad of negative consequences from being unable to send children to child care to increased health risks involved in leaving a baby in a soiled diaper. Our model of a diaper bank differs from most because we mail diapers directly to families, eliminating transportation needs. We hope to partner with community agencies and The College of William & Mary to expand our services and create a more …

State Responses To Alcohol Use And Pregnancy: Findings From The Alcohol Policy Information System, Laurie Drabble, Sue Thomas, Lisa O'Connor, Sarah Roberts

Faculty Publications

This article describes U.S. state policies related to alcohol use during pregnancy, using data from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Alcohol Policy Information System. Specifically, this study examines trends in policies enacted by states over time and types of policies enacted across states in the United States, with a focus on whether laws were supportive or punitive toward women. Findings revealed substantial variability in characteristics of policies (19 primarily supportive, 12 primarily punitive, 12 with a mixed approach, and 8 with no policies). Findings underscore the need to examine possible consequences of policies, especially of punitive policies …

Hot Yoga Establishments In Local Communities Serving Pregnant Women: A Pilot Study On The Health Implications Of Its Practice And Environmental Conditions, Viann N. Nguyen-Feng, Steven L. Feng, Shilpa Babbar, Nicole Calloway Rankins, James D. Blando

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Hot yoga establishments have been increasing in popularity in local communities. Studios may support participation among pregnant women though no clinical studies currently exist that examine prenatal hot yoga effects. The pilot study described in this article aimed to assess the spread of prenatal hot yoga and to provide information on the environmental conditions and practices of those who engage in hot yoga within a local community. A thermal environment meter was used to measure ambient air conditions during three 90-minute hot yoga classes. Mothers who practiced prenatal hot yoga were more likely than non-hot yoga practitioners to have someone …

Low Birth Weight Male Guinea Pig Offspring Display Increased Visceral Adiposity In Early Adulthood., Ousseynou Sarr, Jennifer A Thompson, Lin Zhao, Ting-Yim Lee, Timothy Regnault

Paediatrics Publications

Uteroplacental insufficiency (UPI)-induced intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) predisposes individuals to adult visceral obesity. We postulated that low birth weight (LBW) offspring, from UPI-induced IUGR pregnancies, would display a visceral adipose lipogenic molecular signature involving altered gene expression, phosphorylation status of proteins of the lipid synthesis pathway and microRNA (miR) expression profile, occurring in association with increased visceral adiposity. Normal birth weight (NBW) and LBW (obtained by uterine artery ablation) male guinea pig pups were fed a control diet from weaning to 145 days and sacrificed. Despite being lighter at birth, LBW pups displayed body weights similar to NBW offspring at …

Menarche, Stephanie Stockburger, Hatim A. Omar

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Menarche is a female’s first menstrual period and a landmark event for females during puberty. Historically, menarche has been thought of as a time when women were “unclean.” However, cultural acceptance and scientific knowledge of menarche has greatly increased. Menarche occurs as part of the typical progression of puberty caused by rises in luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and estrogen. The achievement of menstruation is associated with reproductive capability. Menarche that occurs earlier or later than expected should be evaluated by an experienced clinician and may signal a serious underlying problem. Currently, researchers are evaluating whether menarche is …

Impact Of Positive And Negative Health Behaviors On Female Mice And/Or Their Offspring, Kristen M. Platt

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences

Obesity is an ever-growing concern in the developed world that carries with it a plethora of health issues. For example, obesity increases an individual’s risk for Type 2 Diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Pregnancy is a vital time for a woman to maintain optimal health, both for her own benefit as well as that of her offspring, and yet almost half of women in the United States who are of age to bear children are overweight or obese. In mice, we found that offspring born to dams fed a high fat diet did not have impaired glucose tolerance, contrary to our …

Association Of Demographic Characteristics With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus And Gestational Hypertension In Ohio During 2012, Jared D. Klein

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Background: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) and Gestational Hypertension (GHTN) are serious conditions that can arise during pregnancy. Both of these disorders can cause detrimental health effects to both mother and newborn. Methods: Ohio vital statistics birth data was obtained from Public Health- Dayton and Montgomery County. The data set included 137,268 women who gave birth during 2012 in Ohio and had a known GDM and/or GHTN status. IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences for Mac Version 20 (SPSS, IBM, 2011) was used to analyze the data. Descriptive statistics, odds ratios, chi-square analyses, and multivariate logistic forward stepwise regressions were calculated …

Associations Of Maternal Socio-Demographic And Psychosocial Characteristics With Alcohol Use During Pregnancy, Nneoma Adaobi Ilogu

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Alcohol is reported to be one of the most used legal substances among women of reproductive age, and its use during pregnancy is one of the most preventable causes of birth defects and developmental disabilities.1 Due to its teratogenic nature, alcohol use during pregnancy has been associated with a condition referred to as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).2 This comprises of a wide spectrum of disorders such as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), alcohol-related birth defects, and alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorders, which are estimated to affect 1% of all births in the United States and can be prevented through the modification of …

Are There Benefits Of Smoking Reduction During Pregnancy? Smoking Status Of Pregnant Women And The Effect On Pre-Term Delivery, Kelli Ann Mclane

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Premature delivery is defined as a baby born before thirty-­‐seven completed weeks of pregnancy. Premature delivery can result in a longer hospital stay after delivery compared to babies born at full-­‐term.1 Babies born before 37 gestational weeks also have a greater potential for health problems such as acute respiratory, gastrointestinal, immunologic, central nervous system, hearing, and vision problems, as well as longer-­‐term motor, cognitive, visual, hearing, behavioral, social-­‐emotional, health, and growth problems.2 Premature births can impact at the individual level and at a societal level. “The birth of a preterm infant can bring considerable emotional and economic costs to families …

Incidence Of Maternal Vitamin D Deficiency In A Region Of Ankara, Turkey: A Preliminary Study, Gökçe Gür, Ayhan Abaci, Adem Yasi̇n Köksoy, Ahmet Anik, Gönül Çatli, Fati̇h Mehmet Kişlal, Kadi̇r Okhan Akin, Nesi̇be Andiran

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To evaluate vitamin D levels and risk factors for vitamin D deficiency in healthy newborns and their mothers. Materials and methods: Ninety-nine healthy pregnant women (≥37 weeks of gestation) were enrolled in the study. Previous history of pregnancies and births, nutritional status, multivitamin supplementation, educational status, type of clothing, and the economic level of the family were recorded. Blood samples were drawn from the mothers and the umbilical cord of the newborns to measure serum 25(OH)D3, calcium, phosphorus, and parathormone levels. Results: While vitamin D insufficiency was identified as 62.6% in mothers, it was 58.6% in newborns; on the other …

A Risk Prediction Model For The Assessment And Triage Of Women With Hypertensive Disorders Of Pregnancy In Low-Resourced Settings: The Minipiers (Pre-Eclampsia Integrated Estimate Of Risk) Multi-Country Prospective Cohort Study, Beth A. Payne, Jennifer A. Hutcheon, J. Mark Ansermino, David R. Hall, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, Shereen Z. Bhutta, Christine Biryabarema, William A. Grobman, Henk Groen, Farizah Haniff, Jing Li, Laura A. Magee, Mario Merialdi, Annettee Nakimuli, Ziguang Qu, Rozina Sikandar Sultanali, Nelson Sass, Diane Sawchuck, D. Wilhelm Steyn, Mariana Widmer, Jian Zhou, Peter Von Dadelszen

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Background: Pre-eclampsia/eclampsia are leading causes of maternal mortality and morbidity, particularly in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs). We developed the miniPIERS risk prediction model to provide a simple, evidence-based tool to identify pregnant women in LMICs at increased risk of death or major hypertensive-related complications.

Methods and Findings: From 1 July 2008 to 31 March 2012, in five LMICs, data were collected prospectively on 2,081 women with any hypertensive disorder of pregnancy admitted to a participating centre. Candidate predictors collected within 24 hours of admission were entered into a step-wise backward elimination logistic regression model to predict a composite …

Diclazuril Protects Against Maternal Gastrointestinal Syndrome And Congenital Toxoplasmosis, Helieh S. Oz, Thomas Tobin

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasmosis is a common cause of foodborne, gastrointestinal and congenital syndrome with particularly severe or unknown health consequences. There is no safe and effective preventive or therapeutic modality against congenital toxoplasmosis or to eliminate the persistent chronic infection.

HYPOTHESIS: Diclazuril to be safe in pregnancy and effective against gastrointestinal toxoplasmosis.

METHODS: CD1 programmed pregnant mice were divided into groups and administered a diet containing diclazuril, or sham control. Treatments were initiated on Day 5 of pregnancy and continued until Day 16 when dams were euthanatized. On Day 8 of pregnancy dams were infected intraperitoneally with escalating doses of tachyzoites …

The Comparative Effectiveness Of Group Prenatal Care On Women's Psychosocial Health, Emily Heberlein

Theses and Dissertations

Background: High rates of adverse birth outcomes persist in the United States despite increased access to individual prenatal care (IPNC). Psychosocial factors influence birth outcomes and affect infant and child development and maternal functioning. Group prenatal care (GPNC) combines individual physical assessments and facilitated group education and support. Studies of GPNC show promising results, including lowered preterm birth rates, but the GPNC psychosocial mechanisms influencing birth outcomes are unclear.

Methods: Surveys at study enrollment (N=248), late pregnancy, and six weeks postpartum assessed psychosocial effects of each PNC model. Multiple regression models and planned moderator analyses tested whether GPNC participants had …

Evaluation Of Apoptotic Cell Death Following Transient Maternal Hypotension In Fetal Rat Brain: Temporal Pattern Within The First 24 H After Procedure, Si̇bel Bayrak, Bi̇lge Pehli̇vanoğlu, Ayşe Meltem Sevgi̇li̇, Zeynep Di̇cle Balkanci, Hami̇t Özyürek, Pergi̇n Ati̇lla, Ayşe Nur Çakar, Fatma Banu Anlar

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To explore the effects of maternal transient systemic hypotension on apoptotic neuronal death in an intrauterine fetal rat brain during the first 24 h after induction of hypotension. Materials and methods: A total of 40 pregnant Sprague–Dawley rats were subjected to either transient systemic hypotension produced for 30 min by blood withdrawal via femoral artery catheterization (hypotension group) or sham operation (control group) on day 15. Two randomly selected fetuses were taken from each rat at 0, 6, 12, and 24 h after the procedure. Apoptosis was evaluated in sections from the whole fetal brain by TUNEL and caspase-3 staining. …

Does Supplementation Of N-3 Fatty Acids Containing Dha Throughout Pregnancy And Breastfeeding Improve Child Cognition?, Bianca E. Parenti

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not the supplementation of N-3 fatty acids containing DHA throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding improve child cognition.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three double blind randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) published in 2003 and 2011.

DATA SOURCES: Three peer-reviewed RCTs were found using PubMed and Medline. These studies compared DHA supplementation against various placebos.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: enhanced child cognition was assessed via various exams, including the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) and Fagan tests. Significant outcomes were evaluated through the use of SD, Mean …

Is Music Therapy A Complementary Treatment Option For Perinatal Women Experiencing Stress And Anxiety?, Samantha L. Wallace Mph

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not music therapy is a complementary treatment option for perinatal women experiencing stress and anxiety.

STUDY DESIGN: Literature review of three English language studies, published between 2006 and present.

DATA SOURCES: Three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were found using a search of Pubmed, Medline, OVID, and Cochrane databases. These studies analyzed the use of a music therapy intervention among pregnant or postpartum women suffering stress, anxiety and/or depression.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The outcomes of interest include stress, anxiety and severity of depression symptoms. Outcomes …

Cervical Remodeling/Ripening At Term And Preterm Delivery: The Same Mechanism Initiated By Different Mediators And Different Effector Cells, Juan Miguel Gonzalez Velez

Wayne State University Dissertations

Premature cervical remodeling/ripening is believed to contribute to preterm delivery (PTD), the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Despite considerable research, the causes of term and PTD remain unclear, and there is no effective treatment for PTD. We tested the hypothesis that complement activation plays a role in cervical remodeling and PTD. We studied cervical remodeling at term.

We studied two mouse models of inflammation-induced PTD. The first model was induced by vaginal administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)and the second one by administration of progesterone antagonist RU486. Increased cervical C3 deposition and macrophage infiltration and increased serum C3adesArg and C5adesArg …

Efficacy Of Achieving Pregnancy With Fertility-Focused Intercourse, Qiyan Mu, Richard J. Fehring

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose:

To compare pregnancy rates when women have intercourse on self-estimated high and peak fertile days and when they only have intercourse on low fertile days during the fertile window (FW).

Study Design and Methods:

We used a prospective observational cohort study design. Our convenience sample included 124 women who utilized our online charting Web sites to achieve pregnancy from January 2010 to November 2012. Participants used an electronic hormonal fertility monitor (EHFM) or self-observed cervical mucus or both to determine fertility during the estimated FW. Pregnancy rates were determined with Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. Chi square analysis was used to …

Pregnancy Outcomes In Benghazi, Libya, Before And During The Armed Conflict In 2011, Z. Bodalal, K. Agnaeber, N. Nagelkerke, B. Stirling, Marleen Temmerman, O. Degomme

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Stressful life events experienced by pregnant women may lead to adverse obstetric outcomes. This study in Benghazi compared the rates of preterm, low-birth-weight and caesarean-section births at Al-Jamhouria hospital in the months before and during the armed conflict in Libya in 2011. Data were collected on all women admitted to the delivery ward during February to May 2011 (the months of the most active fighting in the city) (n = 7096), and October to December 2010 (the months immediately before the war) (n = 5935). Compared with the preceding months there was a significant rise during the conflict in the …

Formaldehyde Exposure In Pregnant Women And Its Relationship To Fetal Growth, Azita Amiri

All ETDs from UAB

Formaldehyde exposure during pregnancy has been linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes such as poor fetal growth, although few studies have examined formaldehyde exposure during pregnancy and its relationship to fetal growth. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of formaldehyde exposure during pregnancy and examine the relationship between formaldehyde exposure and fetal growth. Formaldehyde exposure was examined, using vapor monitor badge and urine formic acid, in 140 women in their second trimester of pregnancy. One time urine samples were collected during a routine prenatal visit, and women wore the vapor badges for 24 hours. Fetal growth was …

The Challenge To Deliver Cost Effective Care For Patients With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Julie Quinlivan

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

The global rise in obesity and gestational weight gain, along with recent trials demonstrating improved pregnancy and neonatal outcomes associated with the treatment of mild hyperglycaemia, have resulted in a clinical challenge to deliver cost effective healthcare to manage the epidemic of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM). Whilst clinicians now have clear criteria by which to diagnose GDM, and the glycaemic targets to achieve, less clear are the pathways to achieve these outcomes in a cost effective manner. The value of using allied health providers such as dieticians compared to less trained patient educators, the effectiveness of individualised versus group dietician …

Messages That Increase Women's Intentions To Abstain From Alcohol During Pregnancy: Results From Quantitative Testing Of Advertising Concepts, Kathryn E. France, Robert J. Donovan, Carol Bower, Elizabeth J. Elliott, Janet M. Payne, Heather D'Antoine, Anne E. Bartu

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Public awareness-raising campaigns targeting alcohol use during pregnancy are an important part of preventing prenatal alcohol exposure and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Despite this, there is little evidence on what specific elements contribute to campaign message effectiveness. This research evaluated three different advertising concepts addressing alcohol and pregnancy: a threat appeal, a positive appeal promoting a self-efficacy message, and a concept that combined the two appeals. The primary aim was to determine the effectiveness of these concepts in increasing women's intentions to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy. Methods. Women of childbearing age and pregnant women residing in Perth, Western …

Association Between In Utero Arsenic Exposure, Placental Gene Expression, And Infant Birth Weight: A Us Birth Cohort Study, Dennis Liang Fei, Devin C. Koestler, Zhigang Li, Camilla Giambelli, Avencia Sanchez-Mejias, Julie Gosse, Carmen J. Marsit, Margaret R. Karagas, David J. Robbins

Dartmouth Scholarship

Epidemiologic studies and animal models suggest that in utero arsenic exposure affects fetal health, with a negative association between maternal arsenic ingestion and infant birth weight often observed. However, the molecular mechanisms for this association remain elusive. In the present study, we aimed to increase our understanding of the impact of low-dose arsenic exposure on fetal health by identifying possible arsenic-associated fetal tissue biomarkers in a cohort of pregnant women exposed to arsenic at low levels.

Methods: Arsenic concentrations were determined from the urine samples of a cohort of 133 pregnant women from New Hampshire. Placental tissue samples collected from …

Maternal Anaemia And Duration Of Zidovudine In Antiretroviral Regimens For Preventing Mother-To-Child Transmission: A Randomized Trial In Three African Countries, Benn K.D. Sartorius, Matthew F. Chersich, Mary Mwaura, Nicolas Meda, Marleen Temmerman, Marie Louise Newell, Timothy M. M. Farley, Stanley Luchters, The Kesho Bora Study Group

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Background: Although substantiated by little evidence, concerns about zidovudine-related anaemia in pregnancy have influenced antiretroviral (ARV) regimen choice for preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1, especially in settings where anaemia is common.

Methods: Eligible HIV-infected pregnant women in Burkina Faso, Kenya and South Africa were followed from 28 weeks of pregnancy until 12–24 months after delivery (n = 1070). Women with a CD4 count of 200-500cells/mm3 and gestational age 28–36 weeks were randomly assigned to zidovudine-containing triple-ARV prophylaxis continued during breastfeeding up to 6-months, or to zidovudine during pregnancy plus single-dose nevirapine (sd-NVP) at labour. Additionally, two cohorts were …

Wilson’S Disease In Pregnancy: Case Series And Review Of Literature, Ayesha Malik, Ali Khawaja, Lumaan Sheikh

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Background: Wilson’s disease is a rare, autosomal recessive inherited disorder characterized by impaired liver metabolism of copper leading to decreased biliary excretion and incorporation of ceruloplasmin levels mainly in the liver and brain. Untreated Wilson’s disease has been shown to cause subfertility and even in cases where pregnancy occurs, it often results in spontaneous miscarriage.

Case presentations: We present four cases of successful pregnancy outcomes in three patients diagnosed with Wilson’s disease along with the literature review. All the patients were managed with zinc sulphate without any postnatal complications.

Conclusion: Patients with Wilson’s disease receiving regular treatment who remain asymptomatic …

Perinatal Outcomes Of Prenatal Probiotic And Prebiotic Administration: An Integrative Review, Leona Vandevusse, Lisa Hanson, Nasia Safdar

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

The purpose of this integrative review was to identify, critique, and synthesize the maternal and neonatal evidence on the prenatal use of probiotics and prebiotics to inform perinatal health professionals. A comprehensive literature search resulted in 37 studies of prenatal probiotics and 1 on antepartal prebiotics published from 1990 through 2011 that reported maternal, fetal, and/or neonatal outcomes. The methodologic quality of the studies reviewed was high, although investigators used different probiotic combinations and inconsistently reported perinatal clinical outcomes. The extraction of perinatal outcome variables resulted in identification of 9 maternal and 5 neonatal categories. Prenatal probiotics significantly reduced the …

Community Health News, Georgia Southern University

Health Policy & Community Health: News & Publications (2011-2018)

• Adults Attitudes toward Teen Pregnancy